Ink Jet Delivery System Comprising an Improved Fluid Mixture

ABSTRACT

Ink jet delivery systems for a fluid composition comprising from about 50% to about 100%, by weight of the composition, of an active mixture. The active mixture having a vapor pressure less than about 2.3 kPa at 20 C. The composition also comprising about 0% to 50%, by weight, of a carrier volatile composition having a vapor pressure above about 2.3 kPa at 20 C and an ink jet head for delivering the fluid composition into the air.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an ink jet delivery system comprisingan improved perfume mixture and a method of delivering a perfume mixtureinto the air.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various systems exist to deliver volatile compositions, such as perfumemixtures, into the air by an energized (i.e. electrically/batterypowered) atomization system. Such attempts include battery-poweredautomatic aerosol air fresheners, sold under the tradename AIRWICK byReckitt Benckiser. Another attempt is a piezoelectric actuator thatatomizes a volatile composition into fluid droplets in the air, soldunder the tradename GLADE by S.C. Johnson & Son.

Recent attempts have been made to deliver scents by means of an ink jethead. But, these attempts are directed to printing ink-based scentedfluids onto a substrate or surface medium. As such, there remains a needto effectively deliver a perfume mixture into the air via an ink jetdelivery system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, there is provided a delivery system comprising afluid composition comprising from about 50% to about 100%, by weight ofsaid composition, of a volatile compositions (such as a perfumemixture), wherein about 3% to about 25%, by weight of said volatilecompositions, has a vapor pressure greater than 2.3 kPa at 20 C; and anink jet head for delivering said fluid composition into the air.

In another embodiment, there is provided a delivery system comprising afluid composition comprising from about 50% to about 100%, by weight ofsaid composition, of a perfume mixture, wherein about 3% to about 25%,by weight of said perfume mixture, has a boiling point less than 200°C.; a reservoir containing said fluid composition and at least partiallycontaining a wick; and an ink jet head in fluid communication with saidwick and comprising between 1 and 300 nozzles, wherein said ink jet heademits >4 picoliters of said fluid composition into the air from each ofsaid 8 to 32 nozzles

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a delivery system comprising an ink jetand a volatile composition and methods for delivering such volatilecompositions into the air by an ink jet.

Delivery system may comprise a reservoir containing a fluid composition,an ink jet head, a power source, and a housing for containing suchelements. It is to be understood that the delivery system is not limitedto the construction and arrangement of the components set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention isapplicable to other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out invarious ways.

Ink Jet Head

The delivery system of the present invention employs an ink jet headtypically used in ink jet printing. There are two major categories ofink jet printing: “drop-on-demand” and “continuous” ink jet printing.

For continuous ink jet printing, an ink is supplied under pressure to anink jet nozzle and forced out through a small orifice. Prior to passingout of the nozzle, the pressurized ink stream proceeds through a ceramiccrystal which is subjected to an electric current. This current causes apiezoelectric vibration equal to the frequency of the AC electriccurrent. This vibration, in turn, generates the ink droplets from theunbroken ink stream. The ink stream breaks up into a continuous seriesof drops which are equally spaced and of equal size. Surrounding thejet, at a point where the drops separate from the fluid stream in acharge electrode, a voltage is applied between the charge electrode andthe drop stream. When the drops break off from the stream, each dropcarries a charge proportional to the applied voltage at the instant atwhich it breaks off. By varying the charge electrode voltages at thesame rate as drops are produced, it is possible to charge every drop toa predetermined level. The drop stream continues its flight and passesbetween two deflector plates which are maintained at a constantpotential. In the presence of this field, a drop is deflected towardsone of the plates by an amount proportional to the charge carried. Dropswhich are uncharged are undeflected and collected into a gutter to berecycled to the ink nozzle. Those drops which are charged, and hencedeflected, impinge on a substrate traveling at a high speed at rightangles to the direction of drop deflection. By varying the charge onindividual drops, the desired pattern can be printed.

In a typical “drop-on-demand” ink jet printing process, a fluid ink isforced under pressure through a very small orifice of a diametertypically about 0.0024 inches (5-50 microns) in the form of minutedroplets by rapid pressure impulses. The rapid pressure impulses aretypically generated in the print head by either expansion of apiezoelectric crystal vibrating at a high frequency or volatilization ofa volatile composition (e.g. solvent, water, propellant) within the inkby rapid heating cycles. The piezoelectric crystal expansion causes theink to pass through the orifice as minute droplets in proportion to thenumber of crystal vibrations. Thermal ink jet printers employ a heatingelement within the print head to volatilize a portion of the compositionthat propels the vast majority of fluid through the orifice nozzle toform droplets in proportion to the number of on-off cycles for theheating element. The ink is forced out of the nozzle when needed toprint a spot on a substrate as part of a desired image. The minutedroplets may be energized to achieve an electrical charge and deflectedas in the continuous ink jet printing. Conventional ink jet printers aremore particularly described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,465,350 and 3,465,351.

Another type of ink jet printing process is an electrostatic ink jetprocess which employs an electrostatic field to draw the ink through thenozzle to the substrate. Charged ink droplets are drawn to an oppositelycharged platen behind the receiving substrate. Such devices have beendeveloped by Technology International Corp. of Boulder, Colo., under thetrade name ESIJET.

While the present invention may employ any of the above described inkjet head delivery processes, the ink jet head of the present inventionmay include a membrane of 8 to 48 nozzles, alternatively 8 to 32nozzles, alternatively 8 to 16 nozzles, alternatively 8 to 12 nozzles,that delivers 1-4 picoliters of fluid composition per nozzle,alternatively 1-2 picoliters per nozzle on an ink jet head that may beless than about 25 mm². In some embodiments, the ink jet head deliversfrom about 5 mg to about 40 mg of fluid composition per hour into theair. One type of membrane suitable for the present invention is anintegrated membrane of nozzles obtained via MEMs technology as describedin US 2010/01547910. The MEMS head of the invention may comprise athermal driver or a piezo mechanical driver. A thermal MEMS heats afluid present in a chamber to a point where at least part of the fluidboils and leaves the chamber carrying the remaining portion of the fluidwith it. A piezo MEMS driver vibrates mechanically and drives thecomposition from the chamber.

Reservoir

The delivery system includes a reservoir for containing the fluidcomposition. In some embodiments, the reservoir is configured to containfrom about 0.2 to about 50 ml of fluid composition, alternatively fromabout 10 to about 30 ml of fluid composition, alternatively from about15 to about 20 ml of fluid composition. The delivery system may beconfigured to have multiple reservoirs, each containing the same or adifferent composition. The reservoir may be formed as a separateconstruction, so as to be replaceable (e.g. a refill). The reservoir canbe made of any suitable material for containing a fluid composition.Suitable materials for the containers include, but are not limited to,glass and plastic. Examples of such reservoirs are readily available inthe marketplace.

The reservoir may comprise a capillary element made of any commerciallyavailable wicking material such as a fibrous or porous wick thatcontains multiple interconnected open cells which form capillarypassages to draw a fluid composition up from the reservoir to come incontact with the fluid feed of the ink jet engine. Non-limiting examplesof suitable compositions for the capillary element include polyethylene,ultra-high molecular weight polyethelene (UHMW), nylon 6 (N6),polypropylene (PP), polyester fibers, ethyl vinyl acetate, polyethersulfone, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and polyethersulfone (PES),polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE), and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the capillary element may be a high density wickcomposition to aid in containing the scent of a perfume mixture. In oneembodiment, the capillary element is made from a plastic material chosenfrom high-density polyethylene (HDPE). As used herein, high density wickcompositions include any conventional wick material known in the arthaving a pore diameter or equivalent pore diameter (e.g. in the case offiber based wicks) ranging from about 20 microns to about 150 microns,alternatively from about 30 microns to about 70 microns, alternativelyfrom about 30 microns to about 50 microns, alternatively, about 40microns to about 50 microns.

In some embodiments, the capillary element is free of a polyurethanefoam. Many ink jet cartridges use an open cell polyurethane foam whichcan be incompatible with perfume mixtures over time (e.g. after 2 or 3months) and can break down. Regardless of the material of manufacture,the capillary element can exhibit an average pore size from about 10microns to about 500 microns, alternatively from about 50 microns toabout 150 microns, alternatively about 70 microns. The average porevolume of the wick is from about 15% to about 85%, alternatively fromabout 25% to about 50%. Good results have been obtained with wickshaving an average pore volume of about 38%. The capillary element canalso be of variable length, such as, from about 1 mm to about 100 mm, orfrom about 5 mm to about 75 mm, or from about 10 mm to about 50 mm.

The capillary element is in fluid communication with the fluidcomposition and may extend at least partially outside the reservoir. Insome embodiments, the capillary element may be completely surrounded bythe walls of the reservoir. Depending upon the configuration of thedelivery system, a fluid composition may travel up or down the capillaryelement. After flowing from the reservoir, the fluid composition maycontinue traveling downstream to a holding tank from which the ink jethead draws fluid from to atomize the fluid into the air.

In some embodiments, the delivery system may include a fluid channelpositioned in a flow path between the capillary element and the holdingtank. A channel may be useful in configurations where the reservoir andholding tank are placed laterally from one another. The length of thechannel, measured from the capillary element to center of the reservoir,may be about 12 mm, alternatively about 13 mm, alternatively, about 14mm, alternatively about 15 mm, alternatively about 11 mm, alternativelyabout 10 mm.

Fluid Composition

To operate satisfactorily within an ink jet delivery system, manycharacteristics of a fluid composition are taken into consideration.Some factors include formulating fluids with viscosities that areoptimal to emit from the ink jet head, formulating fluids with limitedamounts or no suspended solids that would clog the ink jet head,formulating fluids to be sufficiently stable to not dry and clog the inkjet head, etc. Operating satisfactorily within an ink jet deliverysystem, however, addresses only some of the requirements necessary for afluid composition having more than 50 wt % of a perfume mixture toatomize properly from an ink jet delivery system and to be deliveredeffectively as an air freshening or malodor reducing composition.

The fluid composition of the present invention may exhibit a viscosityof less than 20 centipoise (“cps”), alternatively less than 18 cps,alternatively less than 16 cps, alternatively from about 5 cps to about16 cps, alternatively about 8 cps to about 15 cps. And, the volatilecomposition may have surface tensions below about 35, alternatively fromabout 20 to about 30 dynes per centimeter. Viscosity is in cps, asdetermined using the Bohlin CVO Rheometer system in conjunction with ahigh sensitivity double gap geometry.

In some embodiments, the fluid composition is free of suspended solidsor solid particles existing in a mixture wherein particulate matter isdispersed within a liquid matrix. Free of suspended solids isdistinguishable from dissolved solids that are characteristic of someperfume materials.

The fluid composition of the present invention comprises a perfumemixture present in an amount greater than about 50%, by weight of thefluid composition, alternatively greater than about 60%, alternativelygreater than about 70%, alternatively greater than about 75%,alternatively greater than about 80%, alternatively from about 50% toabout 100%, alternatively from about 60% to about 100%, alternativelyfrom about 70% to about 100%, alternatively from about 80% to about100%, alternatively from about 90% to about 100%. In some embodiments,the fluid composition may consist entirely of the perfume mixture (i.e.100 wt. %).

In one embodiment, the fluid composition of the system may comprisebetween about 50% and 100% of an active mixture. The active mixture hasa vapor pressure of less than about 2.3 kPa at 20 C. The fluidcomposition further comprises between about 0% and about 50% of acarrier. The carrier has a vapor pressure of greater than about 2.3 kPaat 20 C. Exemplary active mixtures include: hydroxyradical, hydrogenperoxide, and potassium permanganate.

The perfume mixture may contain one or more perfume materials. Theperfume materials are selected based on the material's boiling point(“B.P.”). The B.P. referred to herein is measured under normal standardpressure of 760 mm Hg. The B.P. of many perfume ingredients, at standard760 mm Hg can be found in “Perfume and Flavor Chemicals (AromaChemicals),” written and published by Steffen Arctander, 1969.

In the present invention, the perfume mixture may have a B.P. of lessthan 250° C., alternatively less than 225° C., alternatively less than200° C., alternatively less than about 150° C., alternatively less thanabout 120° C., alternatively less than about 100° C., alternativelyabout 50° C. to about 200° C., alternatively about 110° C. to about 140°C. In some embodiments, about 3 wt % to about 25 wt % of the perfumemixture has a B.P. of less than 200° C., alternatively about 5 wt % toabout 25 wt % of the perfume mixture has a B.P. of less than 200° C.

Table 1 lists some non-limiting, exemplary individual perfume materialssuitable for the perfume mixture of the present invention.

TABLE 1 B.P. CAS Number Perfume Raw Material Name (° C.) 105-37-3 Ethylpropionate 99 110-19-0 Isobutyl acetate 116 928-96-1 Beta gamma hexenol157 80-56-8 Alpha Pinene 157 127-91-3 Beta Pinene 166 1708-82-3cis-hexenyl acetate 169 124-13-0 Octanal 170 470-82-6 Eucalyptol 175141-78-6 Ethyl acetate 77

Table 2 shows an exemplary perfume mixture having a total B.P. less than200° C.

TABLE 2 B.P. CAS Number Perfume Raw Material Name Wt % (° C.) 123-68-2Allyl Caproate 2.50 185 140-11-4 Benzyl Acetate 3.00 214 928-96-1 BetaGamma Hexenol 9.00 157 18479-58-8 Dihydro Myrcenol 5.00 198 39255-32-8Ethyl 2 Methyl Pentanoate 9.00 157 77-83-8 Ethyl Methyl Phenyl Glycidate2.00 260 7452-79-1 Ethyl-2-Methyl Butyrate 8.00 132 142-92-7 HexylAcetate 12.50 146 68514-75-0 Orange Phase Oil 25Xl.18%-Low Cit. 10.00177 14638 93-58-3 Methyl Benzoate 0.50 200 104-93-8 Para Cresyl MethylEther 0.20 176 1191-16-8 Prenyl Acetate 8.00 145 88-41-5 Verdox 3.00 22358430-94-7 Iso Nonyl Acetate 27.30 225 TOTAL: 100.00

When formulating fluid compositions for the present invention, one mayalso include solvents, diluents, extenders, fixatives, thickeners, orthe like. Non-limiting examples of these materials are ethyl alcohol,carbitol, diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethyl phthalate,triethyl citrate, isopropyl myristate, ethyl cellulose, and benzylbenzoate.

In some embodiments, the fluid composition may contain functionalperfume components (“FPCs”). FPCs are a class of perfume raw materialswith evaporation properties that are similar to traditional organicsolvents or volatile organic compounds (“VOCs”). “VOCs”, as used herein,means volatile organic compounds that have a vapor pressure of greaterthan 0.2 mm Hg measured at 20° C. and aid in perfume evaporation.Exemplary VOCs include the following organic solvents: dipropyleneglycol methyl ether (“DPM”), 3-methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol (“MMB”),volatile silicone oil, and dipropylene glycol esters of methyl, ethyl,propyl, butyl, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethylether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, orany VOC under the tradename of Dowanol™ glycol ether. VOCs are commonlyused at levels greater than 20% in a fluid composition to aid in perfumeevaporation.

The FPCs of the present invention aid in the evaporation of perfumematerials and may provide a hedonic, fragrance benefit. FPCs may be usedin relatively large concentrations without negatively impacting perfumecharacter of the overall composition. As such, in some embodiments, thefluid composition of the present invention may be substantially free ofVOCs, meaning it has no more than 18%, alternatively no more than 6%,alternatively no more than 5%, alternatively no more than 1%,alternatively no more than 0.5%, by weight of the composition, of VOCs.The volatile composition, in some embodiments, may be free of VOCs.

Perfume materials that are suitable as a FPC may have a KI, as definedabove, from about 800 to about 1500, alternatively about 900 to about1200, alternatively about 1000 to about 1100, alternatively about 1000.

Perfume materials that are suitable for use as a FPC can also be definedusing odor detection threshold (“ODT”) and non-polarizing scentcharacter for a given perfume character scent camp. ODTs may bedetermined using a commercial GC equipped with flame ionization and asniff-port. The GC is calibrated to determine the exact volume ofmaterial injected by the syringe, the precise split ratio, and thehydrocarbon response using a hydrocarbon standard of known concentrationand chain-length distribution. The air flow rate is accurately measuredand, assuming the duration of a human inhalation to last 12 seconds, thesampled volume is calculated. Since the precise concentration at thedetector at any point in time is known, the mass per volume inhaled isknown and concentration of the material can be calculated. To determinewhether a material has a threshold below 50 ppb, solutions are deliveredto the sniff port at the back-calculated concentration. A panelistsniffs the GC effluent and identifies the retention time when odor isnoticed. The average across all panelists determines the threshold ofnoticeability. The necessary amount of analyte is injected onto thecolumn to achieve a 50 ppb concentration at the detector. Typical GCparameters for determining ODTs are listed below. The test is conductedaccording to the guidelines associated with the equipment.

Equipment:

-   -   GC: 5890 Series with FID detector (Agilent Technologies, Ind.,        Palo Alto, Calif., USA);    -   7673 Autosampler (Agilent Technologies, Ind., Palo Alto, Calif.,        USA);    -   Column: DB-1 (Agilent Technologies, Ind., Palo Alto, Calif.,        USA)    -   Length 30 meters ID 0.25 mm film thickness 1 micron (a polymer        layer on the inner wall of the capillary tubing, which provide        selective partitioning for separations to occur).

Method Parameters:

-   -   Split Injection: 17/1 split ratio;    -   Autosampler: 1.13 microliters per injection;    -   Column Flow: 1.10 mL/minute;    -   Air Flow: 345 mL/minute;    -   Inlet Temp. 245° C.;    -   Detector Temp. 285° C.

Temperature Information:

-   -   Initial Temperature: 50° C.;    -   Rate: 5 C/minute;    -   Final Temperature: 280° C.;    -   Final Time: 6 minutes;    -   Leading assumptions: (i) 12 seconds per sniff        -   (ii) GC air adds to sample dilution.

FPCs may have an ODT from greater than about 1.0 parts per billion(“ppb”), alternatively greater than about 5.0 ppb, alternatively greaterthan about 10.0 ppb, alternatively greater than about 20.0 ppb,alternatively greater than about 30.0 ppb, alternatively greater thanabout 0.1 parts per million.

In one embodiment, the FPCs in a fluid composition of the presentinvention may have a KI in the range from about 900 to about 1400;alternatively from about 1000 to about 1300. These FPCs can be either anether, an alcohol, an aldehyde, an acetate, a ketone, or mixturesthereof.

FPCs may be highly volatile, low B.P. perfume materials. Exemplary FPCinclude iso-nonyl acetate, dihydro myrcenol (3-methylene-7-methyloctan-7-ol), linalool (3-hydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-1,6 octadiene), geraniol(3,7 dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-ol), d-limonene(1-methyl-4-isopropenyl-1-cyclohexene, benzyl acetate, isopropylmystristate, and mixtures thereof. Table 3 lists the approximatereported values for exemplary properties of certain FPCs.

TABLE 3 Flash B.P. Clog P point Vapor FPC (° C.) MW @ 25° C. (° C.)pressure KI ODT Iso-Nonyl Acetate 225 186.3 4.28 79.4 0.11 1178 12 ppb(CAS# 58430-94-7) Dihydro Myrcenol 198 156.3 3.03 76.1 0.1 1071 32 ppb(CAS# 18479-58-8) Linalool 205 154.3 2.549 78.9 0.05 1107 22 ppb (CAS#78-70-6) Geraniol 237 154.3 2.769 100 0.00519 1253 0.4 ppb  (CAS#106-24-1) D-Limonene 170 136 4.35 47.2 1.86 1034 204 ppb  (CAS#94266-47-4)

The total amount of FPCs in the perfume mixture may be greater thanabout 50%, alternatively greater than about 60%, alternatively greaterthan about 70%, alternatively greater than about 75%, alternativelygreater than about 80%, alternatively from about 50% to about 100%,alternatively from about 60% to about 100%, alternatively from about 70%to about 100%, alternatively from about 75% to about 100%, alternativelyfrom about 80% to about 100%, alternatively from about 85% to about100%, alternatively from about 90% to about 100%, alternatively about100%, by weight of the perfume mixture. In some embodiments, the perfumemixture may consist entirely of FPCs (i.e. 100 wt. %).

For purposes of illustrating the present invention in further detail,Table 4 lists a non-limiting, exemplary fluid composition comprisingFPCs and their approximate reported values for KI and B.P.

TABLE 4 B.P. Material Name KI wt. % (° C.) Benzyl Acetate (CAS #140-11-4) 1173 1.5 214 Ethyl-2-methyl Butyrate (CAS # 7452-79-1) 850 0.3132 Amyl Acetate (CAS # 628-63-7) 912 1.0 149 Cis 3 Hexenyl Acetate (CAS# 3681-71-8) 1009 0.5 169 Ligustral (CAS # 27939-60-2) 1094 0.5 177Melonal (CAS # 106-72-9) 1060 0.5 116 Hexyl Acetate (CAS # 142-92-7)1016 2.5 146 Dihydro Myrcenol (CAS# 18479-58-8) 1071 15 198 Phenyl EthylAlcohol (CAS# 60-12-8) 1122 8 219 Linalool (CAS # 78-70-6) 1243 25.2 205Geraniol (CAS# 106-24-1) 1253 5 238 Iso Nonyl Acetate (CAS# 40379-24-6)1295 22.5 225 Benzyl Salicylate (CAS # 118-58-1) 2139 3 320 Coumarin(CAS # 91-64-5) 1463 1.5 267 Methyl Dihydro Jasmonate (CAS# 24851-98-7)1668 7 314 Hexyl Cinnamic Aldehyde (CAS # 101-86-0) 1770 6 305

It is contemplated that the fluid composition may comprise othervolatile materials in addition to or in substitution for the perfumemixture including, but not limited to, volatile dyes; compositions thatfunction as insecticides; essential oils or materials that acts tocondition, modify, or otherwise modify the environment (e.g. to assistwith sleep, wake, respiratory health, and like conditions); deodorantsor malodor control compositions (e.g. odor neutralizing materials suchas reactive aldehydes (as disclosed in U.S. 2005/0124512), odor blockingmaterials, odor masking materials, or sensory modifying materials suchas ionones (also disclosed in U.S. 2005/0124512)).

Optional Features

Fan

In another aspect of the invention, the delivery system may comprise afan to assist in driving room-fill and to help avoid deposition oflarger droplets from landing on surrounding surfaces that could damagethe surface. The fan may be any known fan used in the art for airfreshening systems that delivers 1-1000 cubic centimeters of air/minute,alternatively 10-100 cubic centimeters/minute.

Sensors

In some embodiments, the delivery system may include commerciallyavailable sensors that respond to environmental stimuli such as light,noise, motion, and/or odor levels in the air. For example, the deliverysystem can be programmed to turn on when it senses light, and/or to turnoff when it senses no light. In another example, the delivery system canturn on when the sensor senses a person moving into the vicinity of thesensor. Sensors may also be used to monitor the odor levels in the air.The odor sensor can be used to turn-on the delivery system, increase theheat or fan speed, and/or step-up the delivery of the fluid compositionfrom the delivery system when it is needed.

The sensor may also be used to measure fluid levels in the reservoir toindicate the reservoir's end-of-life in advance of depletion. In suchcase, an LED light may turn on to indicate the reservoir needs to befilled or replaced with a new reservoir.

The sensors may be integral with the delivery system housing or in aremote location (i.e. physically separated from the delivery systemhousing) such as remote computer or mobile smart device/phone. Thesensors may communicate with the delivery system remotely via low energyblue tooth, 6 low pan radios or any other means of wirelesslycommunicating with a device and/or a controller (e.g. smart phone orcomputer).

Portable/Battery

The delivery system may be configured to be compact and easily portable.In such case, the delivery system may be battery operated. The deliverysystem may be capable for use with electrical sources as 9-voltbatteries, conventional dry cells such as “A”, “AA”, “AAA”, “C”, and “D”cells, button cells, watch batteries, solar cells, as well asrechargeable batteries with recharging base.

Programming

The delivery system may include programmable electronics to set aprecise intensity level and delivery rate (in milligrams per hour).Alternatively, the electronic circuitry of the delivery system may allowa user to adjust the intensity and/or the timing of the delivering thefluid composition for personal preference, efficacy, or for room size.For example, the delivery system may provide 5 intensity levels for auser to select and user selected options of delivering the fluidcomposition every 6, 12, or 24 hours.

In multiple reservoir delivery systems, a microprocessor and timer couldbe installed to emit the fluid composition from individual reservoirs atdifferent times and for selected time periods, including emitting thevolatile compositions in an alternating emission pattern as described inU.S. Pat. No. 7,223,361. Additionally, the delivery system could beprogrammable so a user can select certain compositions for emission. Inthe case of scented perfumes being emitted simultaneously, a customizedscent may be delivered to the air.

Throughout this specification, components referred to in the singularare to be understood as referring to both a single or plural of suchcomponent.

All percentages stated herein are by weight unless otherwise specified.

Every numerical range given throughout this specification will includeevery narrower numerical range that falls within such broader numericalrange, as if such narrower numerical range were all expressly writtenherein. For example, a stated range of “1 to 10” should be considered toinclude any and all subranges between (and inclusive of) the minimumvalue of 1 and the maximum value of 10; that is, all subranges beginningwith a minimum value of 1 or more and ending with a maximum value of 10or less, e.g., 1 to 6.1, 3.5 to 7.8, 5.5 to 10, etc.

Further, the dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to beunderstood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical valuesrecited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension isintended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalentrange surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.”

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or relatedpatent or application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation ofany document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect toany invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in anycombination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests ordiscloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning ordefinition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning ordefinition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, themeaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shallgovern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that variousother changes and modifications can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover inthe appended claims all such changes and modifications that are withinthe scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A delivery system comprising: a fluid compositioncomprising from about 50% to about 100%, by weight of said composition,of a active mixture, the active mixture having a vapor pressure lessthan about 2.3 kPa at 20 C; about 0% to 50%, by weight, of a carriervolatile composition having a vapor pressure above about 2.3 kPa at 20 Cand an MEMS inkjet head for delivering said fluid composition.
 2. Thedelivery system of claim 1, wherein said MEMS inkjet head comprises athermal inkjet head.
 3. The delivery system of claim 1 wherein the MEMSinkjet head comprises a piezo MEMS driver.
 4. The delivery system ofclaim 1 further comprising a sensor selected from the group consistingof a motion sensor, a light sensor, a fluid detection sensor, aVOCdetection sensor, chemical detector, texture sensor, acoustic sensor andcombinations thereof.
 5. A delivery system comprising: a fluidcomposition comprising from about 50% to about 100%, by weight of saidcomposition, of a active mixture, the active mixture having a vaporpressure less than about 2.3 kPa at 20 C; about 0% to 50%, by weight, ofa carrier volatile composition having a vapor pressure above about 2.3kPa at 20 C; at least one reservoir containing said fluid compositionand at least partially containing a wick; and a MEMS inkjet head influid communication with said wick and comprising between 1 and 300nozzles, wherein said MEMS inkjet head emits more than about 4picoliters of said fluid composition from each of said 1 to 300 nozzles.